Crash Palace Backpackers

I’m writing this during my second visit, in February 2026, and I’m happy to say it’s still just as great as last year. There’s a new grill now, too. I first landed at this hostel by chance on February 2nd, 2025, planning to stay three nights. That booking turned into a week, then nearly three months. The space is awesome, the staff are super friendly, and the atmosphere is always spot on. There are options to suit different budgets and privacy needs. This review’s long overdue.

The kitchen was well stocked and had lots of places to sit, though the ground floor and upstairs felt a little disconnected, with two kitchens. There wasn’t much fresh air in the room, maybe partly because of the Rotorua smell, and it wasn’t the cleanest hostel I’ve stayed in. The room itself was spacious, with very comfy beds and plenty of storage, but they squeaked a lot.

The WiFi was veeeeerryyy slow, so don’t stay here if you rely on a solid internet connection. The lounge inside is far too small, and there’s nowhere to hang a wet towel or rain jacket. The ground floor kitchen is tiny, while the larger one upstairs has too little fridge space and dim lighting. The rooms were clean and the beds looked nice, but the mattresses really weren’t good.

The location is right in central Rotorua, with everything we needed within walking distance and Pack'n'save about five minutes away on foot. Check-in was really good, just as it should be. We stayed in a four-bunk room; it was a bit noisy until 10 pm, then settled down. There’s a small hot spa for four people, and the accommodation was very nice for the price. The only snag was no hot water at night, but that wasn’t a big deal.